Women's Basketball Wins Low-Scoring Affair At Keuka

KEUKA PARK, N.Y. – The Wells College women's basketball team came out on the winning end of Wednesday night's North Eastern Athletic Conference contest against the Keuka College Wolfpack, securing a 42-38 win on the road. With the victory, Wells improves to 5-10 overall on the year and to 4-6 within NEAC play. Keuka (3-10, 3-6 NEAC) collects their 10th loss of the season. 

Wells needed only 42 points for Wednesday evening's victory over Keuka, the fewest necessary for any victory in the team's five-year history. The previous low for scoring in a victory came on Jan. 8, 2011 in a 47-41 decision against Wilson. 

Senior Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) led the team with 15 points, pouring home five three-point field goals to lead both teams. No other player on the Express posted more than two field goals on the afternoon as the squad posted a whopping eight field goals from distance and only six two point baskets on the day. 

Neither team held more than a three point lead through the opening 20 minutes as the lead changed several times. With just under 30 seconds left in the half and the score tied at 20, a clutch three-point basket by junior Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) propelled Wells into the locker room with a 23-20 lead. In the opening stanza alone, Wells bombed four three-point baskets while outshooting the host Wolfpack by a 47.4%-to-25% margin. 

In the second half, Wells opened up a nine-point lead with only 9:56 remaining in regulation time following a Smythe trey. The host Wolfpack, however, hit back-to-back three's down the stretch and eventually recaptured a 38-37 lead with only 1:54 left following an Erica Pendrak jumper. Smythe, however, buried another three-pointer to give Wells a lead they would never relinquish. 

Senior Jessilyn Artaho-Aki (Kapa'a, Hawaii) hit both free throws with one second left to secure the thrilling win. 

Keuka made things interesting with under 30 seconds left, but the Wolfpack missed a whopping three layups and two free throws in that timeframe. The Wolfpack were led by Mackenzie Cole's 13 total points while Katie Stuart posted 10 points for the hosts. 

The Express return to action Saturday, Jan. 31 as they host the Wildcats of Cazenovia College at high noon.